Railway-signal.



M. M. KANE. RAILWAY SIGNAL.

PPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2. 1907.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908,

6 SEEETS-SHEET 1.y

N VEN 70H MaZeM-Z W/ TNE SSE S M. M. KANE.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. z, 1907.

Patented Dee. s, 1908.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/NvE/vro/ Mew-MM@ A TTOHNE YS M. M. KANE. RAILWAY sGNAL. APPLICATIONFILED NOY. 2, 1907.

QQQB. Patented Deo.8,1908.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

M.. M. KANE. RAILWAY SIGNAL.

W/ T/VESSE S M. M. KANE.

) RAILWAY SIGNAL. ARPLIGATION FILED Nov. 2, 1907.

@g I Patented Dec. 8,1908.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W/TNESSES gab/11W@ Mmm/Hs usaran sar rA'rnNr' onirica. I

MATTHEW MICHAEL KANE, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO l'WILLIAM J. GARDNER, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

kno. soeces.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed November 2, 1907. l'Serial No. 400,362.

. vTo all whomvfit'may concern:

act description.

' ing collisionsor accidents caused p i The object of the invention isto produce a signal or semaphore of improved construel -tion radapted tobe used'witha system such as that, suggested; more specifically theobje'ct is to construct a signal or semaphore in such a way that it maybe readily operatcd so as to display different colors in icating whetherthe track is clear or not.

Aiurther object of the invention is to provide an improved signal.

The invention consists in the-construction and combination oi parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and 'particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to behad to the accompany-- ing drawings forminglaJ part ofthis-specificav tion, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure .1 is a perspective sliowinlgthesign'al posts on opposite sidesof the track, and .showing how they are connected withthe electric cableconduits; the lower portion of' this view shows the parts in crosssection; Fig. 2 is a'sideelevation showing a track device by means ofwhich the signals are operated; Fig. 3 isY an enlargedl side elevationof themiddle pcrtionrof the track device shown in Fig. 2, the coverplatebeing removed and certain parts being shown in section Fig. 4 is avertical cross section through the parts shown in Fig. '3 Fig. 5 is afront elevation of one of the signals, certain parts being brokenaway-'and shown in section; Fig. 6 is a vertical vsection.similar toFig. 5, but' showing the parts in a diiierent relation; Fig. 7 is a lhorizontal section taken on the line `7-7 of' Fig. 6; Fig. 7 is a frontelevation showing a .portion of the signal late and illustrating itsconstruction in detai Fig. 7*?"is a horizontal sectie*i on the line7*--7b of Fig. 7, and

further illustrating the construction Fig. S

is a vertical cross section through one of the rails at a trackdeviceand ynear aswitch` way track 1 the signa -..desired..

point, and indicates tlie'manner in which the switch point controls 'thetrack device; this construction is adoptedwhere the open or closedcondition of the switch isindicatedby the'signal; Fig. 8EL is a sideelevationof the parts shown 'in Fig. 8; Fig. 9 Visla diagrammatic viewshowing a short vportion of a railway track having a turn-out or siding,and illustratesthe arrangement for operating the signals automaticallyfrom the siding to show whether there is a train on the ysiding orwhether the switch at the endet-the siding is open or closed; Fig. 10 isa dia raminatic View showing a short portioirof t e railway track andindicates the wiring arrangement in connection with the signalswhich aremaintained to indicate danger in advance and4 in the rear of the movingtrain; and

Fig. 1I is a front'elevation of oneof the. `sig nals and showingtheupper. portion of a signal post. v v

Referring more particularly to the parts, and especially to Fig. 1, 1represents the railroad track, at the side vof whicli, 'conduits 2 and 3are arrangedg'rnning lon it'udinall of the track. In these conduits eectric ca les f4 are carried, the conductors of which pass -throughlateral conduits 5 and 6 to the signal posts 7 and 8, said posts beinarranged on opposite sides of the .track an at intervals. Thesignalposts 7 and 8 carry signalsQ respectively, which project in 'ahorizontal position toward the track. The signal on the right ofthetrack has its front toward the approaching train, while the signal onthe left has its. back toward the approaching train. In this way the sinals on one side of the track will be used y trains passing inonedirection, while those on the other side will `be used by trainspassingin the opposite direction. l

Referring now tol Fig. 10, along the rails 9 are disposed. vdesignatethese signals collectively by the `numeral 9, while the signals at theupper portionfof `the. sheet areindicated by the nu- '.ineral 98L andthose at the lowerportion of the'sheet by .the'numeral 9b.The-signals'Qti `will be used by trains passing onv the'track rom rightto left, While the signalsb will'be used by trains passing in theoposite direction. In practice, these signa s will be arranged about 11()yards apart, but they mayv be spaced a greater orvless' distanceapart-if IOA5 iic

. vide track devices 12, 13 .and 14.

f vices is very clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Each track devices connected by conductors with the main line wires 1'0andl 11. It will be suiicient to trace out the circuit arrangement foroneof vthe trackdevices and one pairv of the signals. Referring to thetrack device 12, this trackdevice is connected through the wires 15 and16 with the line -wires 10 and 11 respectively.v As will appear from thedescription to be'made hereinafter of the track devices, when thesetrack devices are operated by the Wheelsof a passing train, the wires15and 16 are connected respectively with the wires 17 and 18. From` tesewires17 and 1 8 six loops or branch circuits are formed which ass uand down the track respectively. Tfiose w iich pass in one direction onthe track' operate the signals on the right of the track in thedirection in which the train is advancing, while those which pass in theopposite direction o erate the sections on the opposite side. n this wayas the train passes a track device, signals -are maintained in thedanger position both in advance and in the rear. From the wire 17 a wire19 leads to a longitudinally -dis osed wire 2() which runs down thetrack an crosses by a cross wire 21 tothe signal 9a which lies almostopposite the track device, returning on the wire 22 from the signalconnection, it is attached to a longitudinally disosed wire 23 fromwhich another wire 24 eads back to and connects with the wire 18. Inthis way a complete circuit is closed to the nearest signal on the oposite side of the track. Similar circuits w ich are indicated lin thedrawings, are closed through the sigtrackdeviceis closed, these wires 25and 26' are connected respectively with wires 27 and 28,. When thecircuit is closed, the current passes from the wire 28 to alongitudinally x extending Wire 29 which runs forward along thc trackand asses out through one of the signals 9'? :is-in icatcd. From thissignal the current returns on a wire 30 which connects with alongitudinally extending wire 31,

'f which runs back down the track and connects with a wire 32 whichleads back to the wire 27. vSimilar' circuits are provided for the sixsignals in advance of' the train. From this arrangement, the wiringsystem will comprise a number of longitudinally disposed leader lines 33which run along the track to operate the rear signals, and similar wires34 which run along the track to operate the signals in advance. and 34`are laid in the conduit 2, whilev the main or feed wires 10 and 11 runin the conduit 3.

The construction of one of the track devices will now be described,referring especially to Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive: Each track 'devicecomprises a box 35 which is, attached These wires 33 to the side of therail as shown, and at one connected pivotally to braces or links 40connected by pivot bolts 41 with the rail.. The

lunger 36 is held in an ele"ated position so that the treadle lever 39projects above the rail, by means of a helical spring 42 which isdisposed under the plunger Within the box 35, as shown in Fig. 3. Withinthe box I provide a suitably insulated double knife switch 43 which isoperated by means of a in-and-slot connection 44 with the plunger.

' o the terminals of this switch, wires 45'and 46 lead from the mainline, and these wires correspond to the wires 15 and 16 described .inconnection with the track device 12.

These wires 45 and 46 may be connected respectively with the wires 47and 48 which lead from the other side of the switch, and

these wires 47 and 48 correspond res ectively to the wires 17 and 18 ofthe track evice 12. These wires 45 and 48 are carried out through asuitable. conduit or tube 49 which passes through the bottom of the boX.From this arrangement .it should be understood that when a train ispassing a track device,` the wheels press the treadle levers 39 andclose the switch 43, closing the circuits in the manner described inconnection with Fig. 10.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 8a and 9, the arrangement for indiatingwhether a siding is -I safe or not will now be described. Referringespecially to Fig. 9, 50 represents the siding oil' from the main track51. Along the main track I provide signals 52 which are operatedaccording to the system described above, b

.trains passing along the main track.- -In a dition to this, they maybe. operated by track devices 53 which are vdis osed along vthe siding50. The signals 52 w ich are disposedopposite to the siding, are vup anddown the track for a considerable distance,

and are of the special type illustrated in Fig.

11; that is, each signal, in addition to its lights .c1-.similar partswhich are used in` con-A 13g nection With the main track signal system,is provided with a green light 54, and these green lights 54 are placedin loops or conductors 55 which are connected with lead Wires 56 whichextend longitudinally up and down the track. l 58 Wires. 59 and 60respectively, extend over to each of the-track devices 53, and when atrack device is passed, lthese Wires 59 and 60 are connectedrespectively with w` 6l and 62. The Wire 61 is connected with the leadWire 5G, while the wire 62 connects with the lead. Wire 623 which runsparallel with the lead Wire 56. From this arrangement it will beunderstood that the signals 52 are placed in parallel arrangement sothat when the track device is closed, a number of signals up and downthe track will show green or any color desired. In addition to this, Iprovide an arrangement for indicating whether the switch 64 is open lorclosed;l ln the illustration, Fig. Si, l have shown the arrangement forindicating the condition of one of the sw'tches l'or the siding. Inpractice, it should'be understood that the switches at both ends of thesiding will have similar circuit arrangements. l*1 or this purpose, nearthe switch l provide a track device (i5, which is similar inconstruction to the track device already described, but it is arrangedto be operated by the moving switch point 66 as illustrated in Figs. andSil. In order to en.- able the .movement of the switch point 66 'toloperate the signal, l provide a yoke 67 which engages one of thetreadle'levers GS, and this yoke connected .by a link or connecting rod69 with. an oll'sct link 7l), and this link connected by means of a hellcrank lever 71 with a link 72 which is attached to the flange of theswitch point. F rom tliisarrangemcnt, when the switch. point moves over'to open or close the switch, the track device will bo operated so as toopen or close the knife switch described above and illustrated in l? 3and 4. The track device is connected by means of a suitable circuit 7 3with a signal 74 placed down theV track l'rom the end ol the switch, orthere may be il" desired, a number of these signals of the type shown inFig. l, that is a main line signal. From this arrange* ment it should beunderstood that when the switch is open a red light will be presented atthe switch signal.

As indicated in Fig. l, the cable in conduit -f is connected by anoll'sct with each track device. Vllirougl'r each/of these offsets thewir;` connections are made to thc track dovices. The wires 56 and (53(Fig. 9) are run through (he conduit 2. v

'lhe construction of the signal arms or signal devices 'will nonbex-described, rclerring especially to Figs. 5, o and 7. llach oi thesignals consists ol' a horizontal casev or arm T5,-

Which is Vconstructed Water and nf'cather proof, so that the mteriorthereol 1s fully prosodass From the main line -Wires 57 and `orally onthrough the magnet 86.

tected, the forward side being provided with a pane of glass 76. On theinside of the rear Wall ol' this case longitudinal ribs/7 7 areattached. which allord support'for a plurality of wings 78, the saidwings being provided at one edge with gudgeons or pivots 79, which areyrotatably mounted in the ribs, as shown. These Wings are painted Whiteon one side and red on the other, and they are adapted to lie foldedagainst each other, as indicated in Figs. Gland 7, or in a reversedposition, as shown in Fig 5.. See also F ig. 7h. The adjacent Wingsover-lap each other in these two positions,.so that inv one positionthey appear asY a' continuous white plate or signal (each Wingconstituting a section of the signal); thus the signal shows safe and inthe other position thesignal .will show red indicating dangeL". Neartheir pivots 7), the wings are Jformed with slots S0, respectively,across which vertical pins are passed, and to these pins the ends oflinks 81 are attached. The end link 82 near the pole is connected to anarmature lever 83 cooperating with an electro-magnet Se, so that'n'fhenthe magnet is energized it will pull the lever over, as indi cated inFig. o, to the dangerH position. The wings may be pulled over to thereversed position by a similar armature lever S5 at the other end ol thecase, controlled. by an electromagnet and connected with the wings bythe end link 87. At the inner end of the case 75 a switch 88 isprovided, the contact termi-- nais of which are connected with themagnet through the conductors X9, and this switch is normally heldclosed by a spring .ll'l, as shown. .The switch is provided with auarmature 92 coi'perating with an electromagnet )5 'lhe magnets. S4, 93and. the lights 91.. are connected through the circuit Wires 21 and 22,as indicated in lfigs. 5 and (l, the lights and the magnets S4 beingconnected in parallel by conductors 81N.

As indicated in Fig. 10, the conductors 2l and .22 lead l'rom the trackdevices, so that the current is normally not on through these magnets.The. switch 88 is connected by conductors 88, 88h with the main circuitWires l() and 1], so that the current is nor- When the track devicecorresponding to a certain signal is pressed down by a Wheel of apassing train, the magnet s3 opens the switch S8, and the magnet 84becomes energized. '.lhis magnet then pulls the signal 1.rings into the"(langer position shown in Fig. 6, and the light 9i which was normallydark, now glows. To the. le ver 83, a spring 83 is attached, whichoperates to pull the signal to danger position in case the electriccurrent should l'ail; in this way the train nien will be apprised olethe disordered state ol' the signal system and will be pnt on theirguard. As soon as the current fails, of course the spring 9() will closethe switch 88 again, hence if the current should fail, the spring 83awill pull the signal over to safe, but `the light 91 will not be lit.rThe train man finding this condition will proceed with caution, Thechoice of the colors for the signal wings is, of course, conventional,and other colors' thanA red and white might he selected, aif desired.

The entire system, including the signals and conduits, isconstructedabsolutely weather :ind waterproof, so that thereliabilityzof the signals under ell conditions, is assured.` Thecurrent for the system willbe supplied from power stations in the citieselong the railway line.

Having thus descrilnd my invention, I claim :is new and desire to securehy Letters Patent: y

A signal having a plurality 'of reversible wings adapted to showdifferent colors in diiferent positions, Aineens connecting said wingsto Imove the seme in unison, en armetiire lever connected with saidwings, an electro-nntgnet controlling said armature lever and normallyholding said'wings in their 'salf'efposition, end means tending to pullseid wings into thc reverse or danger position, said means operatingwhenthe current is broken through said magnet.

2, A signal having a plurality of pivoted wings, 4seid wings havingopenings therein, links connecting said wings and attached. thereto inseid openings, and means for "ulling said links to hold said wings uponeach other in one position and in e reversed position.

' 3. In a signal, in combination, e signal plate, an armature leverconnected with said plete, an electro-magnet co ereting with seidarmature lever and autor( ing menus for lmldingsaid plate in e safeposition, a second :tri'nztture lever connected with seid plato, csecond. electro-magnet cooperating with `sai d second armature lever andtending 1.o move seid plate into the danger position, enelectrically-controlled switch controlling said first electro-mgnet, ecircuit passing through said first electro-magnet and said switch, and asecond circuit passin through said electrically-controlled switcharndisaid second electro-magnet.

4. In a signal, in combination, si. reversible signal plate, an armaturelever connected therewith, an electro-,magnet coperating with said leverand tending to hold said plete in av safe position, a second armaturelever attache( to said plate, a-second electro-magnet cooperating withsaid second lever and tending to move said plate into a danger osition,a. circuit passing through said iirst e cetro-magnet, anelectrically-'controlled switch in said circuit, a second circuit'passing through said electrically-controlled switchend said secondelectro-magnet, sind a track device in said second circuit.

5. In a signal, in combination, a. reversible signal plete, an armaturelever connected therewith, an electro-magnet coperating With saidarmature lever adapted to hold seid signal plate in e, sete position, aSecond armature lever connected with said plate, e second electro-magnetcontrolling said second lever and tending to hold seid plate in e dangerposition, an electricallycontrolled switch, a circuit passingvthrughsaid electricnlly-controlled switchjand said irst electro-magnet, asecond circuit passing through seid electricall -controlled switch andsaid secondl electro-magnet and having ai branch including an electriclight, and e sprinflr tending to hold said-switch in its closedposition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATTHEW' MICHAEL KANE.

fitnesses Trios. O. SPACY, W. II. W'ALKER.

